Grizzly Bears

by Lucy Bledsoe illustrated by Barbara Gibson© Center for the Collaborative Classroom

Grizzly Bears

by Lucy Bledsoe illustrated by Barbara Gibson© Center for the Collaborative Classroom

Text and illustrations copyright © 2016 by Center for the Collaborative Classroom

All rights reserved. Except where otherwise noted, no part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permissions, write to the Publishing Services department at Center for the Collaborative Classroom.

First edition published 2016.

Paw image © 2003–2015 Shutterstock, Inc./Stefanina Hill.

Illustrations by Barbara Gibson Book design by Roberta Morris

Center for the Collaborative Classroom 1250 53rd Street, Suite 3 Emeryville, CA 94608-2965 (800) 666-7270 * fax: (510) 464-3670 collaborativeclassroom.org

ISBN 978-1-61003-686-3

Printed in China 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 RRD 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15

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What hunts from dawn to dusk?

What has sharp claws and a big hump on

its back? Meet the grizzly bear.

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Grizzly bears can be very large, more than 1,000

pounds in size. A grizzly is brown but has some gray

fur. Unlike a black bear, a grizzly has a large hump

on its back.

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This bear has very large jaws. Its jaws are so

strong that they can crush a bowling ball!

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The grizzly also has very large claws that help

it dig for roots and other plants. Strong jaws and

large claws help grizzlies catch and kill their food.

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Strong legs make grizzlies fast runners. Grizzly

bears chase and catch many animals. Other animals

in the woods stay far from grizzly bears.

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Grizzly bears use their jaws to eat raw meat.

They eat young moose, elk, and deer. Grizzly bears

hunt from dawn to dusk.

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Some grizzly bears eat fish. They stand in the

river and grab the fish with their claws.

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A grizzly will even eat ants, moths, bees, and

other bugs! In summer, bears eat lots of food

so they can get fat.

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Every winter, grizzly bears make a den and take

a very long nap. The bears sleep for 5 to 7 months.

They use up the fat they stored in the summer.

Mother bears give birth to young cubs in their dens.

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Grizzly bears come out of their dens when the

snow and ice thaws (melts). This is the time for the

young ones to learn how to hunt.

This mother sits on her haunches (rear). She is

watching the young cubs learn how to play.© Center for the Collaborative Classroom

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The young cubs stay and learn with their

mothers for about two years, until they are

large enough to be on their own.

Most bears do not come close to people,

but sometimes a mother will fight if people

come near her cubs.

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Because bears are so big and strong, it is best to stay

away from them. People can take bear-watching trips,

though. They go to the places where grizzly bears live.

They watch the bears from platforms high overhead.

This is a way to stay safe near grizzly bears!

© Center for the Collaborative Classroom

ISBN 978-1-61003-686-3

9 781610 036863

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BR-HBRK2-66© Center for the Collaborative Classroom